System and method for actuating a vehicle operation power mode

Abstract

A system and method for actuating a vehicle operation power mode that include receiving sensor data from at least one sensor of a vehicle. The system and method also include determining if at least one vehicle operation requirement is met based on analysis of the sensor data and actuating an electric powered operation mode of the vehicle based on determining that the at least one operation requirement is met. The system and method further include modifying an operation of an electric battery of the vehicle to power the vehicle through the electric battery from being charged by a fuel powered engine of the vehicle based on the actuation of the electric powered operation mode.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A computer-implemented method for actuating a vehicle operation power mode, comprising:
 receiving sensor data from at least one sensor of a vehicle; 
 determining if at least one vehicle operation requirement is met based on analysis of the sensor data; 
 determining if a state of charge of an electric battery of the vehicle is at a sufficient level which allows the vehicle to be operated for a particular duration or a particular distance and actuating an electric powered operation mode of the vehicle based on determining that the at least one operation requirement is met and that the state of charge is at the sufficient level; and 
 selectively modifying an operation of the electric battery of the vehicle to power the vehicle through the electric battery from being charged by a fuel powered engine of the vehicle based on the actuation of the electric powered operation mode until a state of change of the electric battery is determined to be at a sufficient level to operate the vehicle through the electric powered operation mode for a predetermined duration. 
 
     
     
       2. The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein receiving the sensor data from the at least one sensor of the vehicle includes receiving occupant sensing data that pertains to a number of occupants that are seated within the vehicle. 
     
     
       3. The computer-implemented method of  claim 2 , wherein determining if the at least one vehicle operation requirement is met includes comparing the sensed number of occupants that are seated within the vehicle against an occupant threshold to determine if the sensed number of occupants meet or surpass the occupant threshold, wherein the occupant threshold is based on a model of the vehicle. 
     
     
       4. The computer-implemented method of  claim 3 , wherein actuating the electric powered operation mode of the vehicle includes modifying a mode of operation of the vehicle from a fuel powered operation mode that includes an engine of the vehicle providing power to power the vehicle to the electric powered operation mode that includes the electric battery of the vehicle providing electric power to power the vehicle upon determining that the sensed number of occupants that are seated within the vehicle meet or surpass the occupant threshold. 
     
     
       5. The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , further including calculating a lease payment rate of the vehicle that is based on a duration of the actuation of the electric powered operation mode and a distance of travel during which the electric powered operation mode has been actuated during at least one trip of the vehicle. 
     
     
       6. The computer-implemented method of  claim 5 , further including calculating a discounted ride sharing fee that is charged to at least one ride sharing customer based on the lease payment rate and a geo-location of the vehicle. 
     
     
       7. The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , further including analyzing a throttle position of a vehicle throttle body to determine the actuation of the electric powered operation mode of the vehicle. 
     
     
       8. The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , further including determining a number of zero-emission vehicle program credits that are provided to a manufacturer of the vehicle, wherein the number of zero-emission vehicle program credits are based on at least one: an aggregated duration of time or an aggregated distance of travel during which the electric powered operation mode has been actuated for plug in hybrid vehicles manufactured by the manufacturer. 
     
     
       9. The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , further including actuating a fuel powered operation mode upon determining that the at least one operation requirement is not met, wherein the electric battery is configured to be charged by the fuel powered engine of the vehicle. 
     
     
       10. A system for actuating a vehicle operation power mode, comprising:
 a memory storing instructions when executed by a processor cause the processor to: 
 receive sensor data from at least one sensor of a vehicle; 
 determine if at least one vehicle operation requirement is met based on analysis of the sensor data; 
 determine if a state of charge of an electric battery of the vehicle is at a sufficient level which allows the vehicle to be operated for a particular duration or a particular distance and actuate an electric powered operation mode of the vehicle based on determining that the at least one operation requirement is met and that the state of charge is at the sufficient level; and 
 selectively modify an operation of the electric battery of the vehicle to power the vehicle through the electric battery from being charged by a fuel powered engine of the vehicle based on the actuation of the electric powered operation mode until a state of change of the electric battery is determined to be at a sufficient level to operate the vehicle through the electric powered operation mode for a predetermined duration. 
 
     
     
       11. The system of  claim 10 , wherein receiving the sensor data from the at least one sensor of the vehicle includes receiving occupant sensing data that pertains to a number of occupants that are seated within the vehicle. 
     
     
       12. The system of  claim 11 , wherein determining if the at least one vehicle operation requirement is met includes comparing the sensed number of occupants that are seated within the vehicle against an occupant threshold to determine if the sensed number of occupants meet or surpass the occupant threshold, wherein the occupant threshold is based on a model of the vehicle. 
     
     
       13. The system of  claim 12 , wherein actuating the electric powered operation mode of the vehicle includes modifying a mode of operation of the vehicle from a fuel powered operation mode that includes an engine of the vehicle providing power to power the vehicle to the electric powered operation mode that includes the electric battery of the vehicle providing electric power to power the vehicle upon determining that the sensed number of occupants that are seated within the vehicle meet or surpass the occupant threshold. 
     
     
       14. The system of  claim 10 , further including calculating a lease payment rate of the vehicle that is based on a duration of the actuation of the electric powered operation mode and a distance of travel during which the electric powered operation mode has been actuated during at least one trip of the vehicle. 
     
     
       15. The system of  claim 10 , further including calculating a discounted ride sharing fee that is charged to at least one ride sharing customer based on the lease payment rate and a geo-location of the vehicle. 
     
     
       16. The system of  claim 15 , further including analyzing a throttle position of a vehicle throttle body to determine the actuation of the electric powered operation mode of the vehicle. 
     
     
       17. The system of  claim 10 , further including determining a number of zero-emission vehicle program credits that are provided to a manufacturer of the vehicle, wherein the number of zero-emission vehicle program credits are based on at least one: an aggregated duration of time or an aggregated distance of travel during which the electric powered operation mode has been actuated for plug in hybrid vehicles manufactured by the manufacturer. 
     
     
       18. The system of  claim 10 , further including actuating a fuel powered operation mode upon determining that the at least one operation requirement is not met, wherein the electric battery is configured to be charged by the fuel powered engine of the vehicle. 
     
     
       19. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing instructions that when executed by a computer, which includes a processor perform a method, the method comprising:
 receiving sensor data from at least one sensor of a vehicle; 
 determining if at least one vehicle operation requirement is met based on analysis of the sensor data; 
 determining if a state of charge of an electric battery of the vehicle is at a sufficient level which allows the vehicle to be operated for a particular duration or a particular distance and actuating an electric powered operation mode of the vehicle based on determining that the at least one operation requirement is met and that the state of charge is at the sufficient level; and 
 modifying an operation of the electric battery of the vehicle to power the vehicle through the electric battery from being charged by a fuel powered engine of the vehicle based on the actuation of the electric powered operation mode until a state of change of the electric battery is determined to be at a sufficient level to operate the vehicle through the electric powered operation mode for a predetermined duration. 
 
     
     
       20. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 19 , further including actuating a fuel powered operation mode upon determining that the at least one operation requirement is not met, wherein the electric battery is configured to be charged by the fuel powered engine of the vehicle.